Iron Man Cal earned his spot in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) by wiring the Pat O’Brien (G2), and Graham Motion’s shipper Test Score booked his Turf (G1) ticket in the Del Mar H. (G2).

Dr. Venkman has been unplaced in both starts this year but has a history of finding his better self in the $250,000 Pat O’Brien (G2), one of two Breeders’ Cup Challenge preps at Del Mar on Saturday.

The 1 1/16-mile San Diego serves as the local prep for the Aug. 22 Pacific Classic (G1), a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

Sunday's Del Mar Derby (G2) and Shared Belief S. have a common theme: small fields dominated by multiple entrants from high-profile barns.

After racing too keenly and lasting by just a neck in the Columbia S. at Tampa Bay Downs, Zulu Kingdom was able to settle better in a stalking role in Saturday’s $924,780 American Turf (G1).

The Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore tandem completed a Breeders’ Cup Friday double when Henri Matisse exploded late in the Juvenile Turf (G1).